So, exactly how much complexity can you cram into a Belgian pale ale? The fine brewers at Struise have seemed to find more depths, layers, and varieties of taste with help from used bourbon barrels which were used during six months of wood aging.

The beer pours with a somewhat muddy appearance of burnt orange and goldenrod hues. The haze murks up the snifter but testifies to its full "non-filtered" flavor. A creamy and fluffy off-white head separates from the liquid and caps the beer with long standing foam and intricate patterns of lace left behind.

Fruit and spice fill the nose- first a cidery apple note rises, then grape, pear, under ripened berries just before richer notes of dates and figs rise as the beer warms. Spicy white and black pepper, aniseed, cumin, and coriander also get bolder and spicier when I dive deeper and deeper into the session until the scent of musty and vinous woods, wine-like acidity, and vanilla laden oak accompany those last few drops.

Flavors take quite a journey across the palate, and once again are lead by fruit. A mix of wine-like fruits of pear, apple, and grape create a refreshing taste that are in perfect contrast to the early wine-like acidity, white pepper, and soft celery seed. Morphing into oranges, dried lemons, and raspberry- the the develops darker fruit taste at middle palate. Then the richer taste of figs, cherries, sultans, and dates invite a balance of fresh cracked black peppercorn, vanilla, caramelized oak, and sandalwood to signal the beer's finish. Earthen hops add to the mix and become just one of those spicy wood flavors that weave into the flavor profile seamlessly.

Medium bodied, there are those moments when the wine-ish acidity and thinness signal lighter bodies, but then the caramel, dark fruit, and carbonation makes the beer seem creamier than that. But as the carbonation dispels, the beer's spicy sweetness turns earthly bitter, tannin/powdery-dry, and with bourbon-style warmth to finish.

Tsjeeses Reserve is one of the most complex Belgian strong pale ales on the market. Balanced to near perfection, the beer gives new tastes to be explored with every sip. It's one of those beers that's less about enjoyment and more about exploration!

Bottle: Poured a deep clear hazy brown color ale with a large foamy head with good retention and some lacing. Aroma of candi sugar with caramelized malt, light toffee and some light bourbon notes are also perceptible. Taste is a very drinkable mix between some caramelized malt with light toffee notes with some residual candi sugar notes, candy ester and some light bourbon notes with some vanilla also perceptible. Body is about average with good carbonation and no apparent alcohol. I was expecting the bourbon notes to be more apparent but this is still a very enjoyable and easily drinkable beer.

S - Very oaky, with tons of fruity yeast esters and a bit of peppery spice. Minimal bourbon character; I probably would have guessed wine or even fresh oak barrels to be honest. Malt imparts some candi sugar and red fruit flavors.

T - Taste is similarly high on fruity Belgian yeast, and oak, with perhaps a bit more vanilla this time around. Bourbon is nearly undetectable. The flavor seems somewhat muted relative to the aroma, and what is there is mostly yeast and wood. Alcohol is well-concealed, I guess.

D - I'm wondering if an infection cleaned out a lot of the residual sugars. Pretty disappointing, and very little of the advertised bourbon character; guessing the barrels dried out too much before they were used. I preferred the port version, but I guess I'm in the minority.

Tsjeeses Reserva (Bourbon Barrel Aged). 10%. Bottle served into a Samuel Smith's nonic glass at a tasting. Reviewed from notes.

A: Pours a one finger khaki colour head ofnice cream and thickness. Retention is impressive for the high ABV; around two minutes. Body colour is a clear copper. No yeast particles are visible. No bubble show.

One of the few remaining bottles left at Bruery Provisions before its closure, yet the small selection may had been the reason why picked up this bottle. Belgian Xmas ale is a good thing, seeing one with a year of age makes the anticipation more anxious. From a 330 ml bottle, on to the beer:

Toasted orange that accidently received a dash of Christmas red.The head on top forms an inch thick, dropping to a lace around the glass. A pleasant nose, mixing some Xmas pudding, plums, candied fruit, rum, raisins, and some alcohol.

It's very flavorful, and despite that is actually quite mellow overall. That makes it even better. The flavors of pineapple, dark rum, raisins, brown sugar....oh, here's the bourbon. There's a hint of chocolate too. It just gets better and better. Add that to the great mouthfeel, which is full bodied yet very soft on the palate, as is the carbonation. Unlike the aroma that gives a little booze, I can't find the alcohol in the beer's taste. Incredicble. The soft aftertaste of rum soaked raisins makes an uplifting final impression.

I had been thinking that I backed myself into a corner after trying some many beers over the last year (many which I approved), but nothing WOW!!! (except for Stone Enjoy by IPA) to my liking. It's great to get that feeling again, and Tsjeeses Reserva is just the medicine that I needed. If you can find it, get it now!

33cl bottle - 2011 vintage, batch 11. Pours an amber hue with a loose, half inch, off-white head that dissipates into a consistent soapy skim. Nose expresses ethanol, candi sugar and something slightly herbal. Taste follows nose with a hint of toffee and candied fruit, but some hops bittering cuts through the flavor profile. A trace of anise and medicinal at the back. Mouthfeel is light-medium in body with a slightly oily texture. Carbonation is lively - a bit too assertive and somewhat gassy. Overall, this beer comes off as a barrel-aged Belgian Strong Pale. I liked, but didn't love this beer as there really was no impression of the bourbon character present for me. Pretty much the same as the Port version in my opinion; however this offering had a more pronounced ethanol character.

(A)- Pours a murky & cloudy pale chestnut brown color. Produced some really nice off-white froth with some surprising retention. Even some lacing left behind.

(S)- First thing that comes to mind is rich fruitcake. It has a depth to it in a rich and sweet way along with a dry oaky boozy raisin aroma. Some fig, dark fruits, and a bready yeastiness; just like a fruitcake.

(T)- Quite similar to the smell, only the yeast presence definitely lets itself known more. A bit dry but also a great combo of a nutmeg, toffee, raisin, and dark fruit flavor profiles. Just a twinge of the bourbon barrel at the end.

(M)- A great carbonation level and balance to this. The bourbon barrel does not throw its weight around and it meshes very well with the rich yet not overly sweet beer base. The bitterness does go up a few notches as it warms, but it only gets better with that little bit.

(O)- Everytime I have a beer by Struise, I am always thoroughly impressed by their complexity, their drinkability, and just that little something different to put it over the top and this one is no different. I have not had this fresh, but with the little time on this has really seemed to settle any strong booziness it might have had, while integrating the barrel into something really good. I will track down more of this to have around Christmas time